View source for USA-260

{{Short description|American navigation satellite used for GPS}}
{{Infobox spaceflight|auto=all
| name                  = USA-260
| image                 = Navstar-2F.jpg
| image_caption         = A Block IIF GPS satellite
| insignia              =
<!--Basic details-->
| mission_type          = [[Navigation satellite|Navigation]]
| operator              = [[US Air Force]]
| COSPAR_ID             = 2015-013A<ref name="NSSDC">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2015-013A|title=Navstar 73|publisher=US National Space Science Data Center|access-date=26 March 2015}}</ref>
| SATCAT                = 40534<ref name="NSSDC"/>
| mission_duration      = 12&nbsp;years (planned)
<!--Spacecraft properties-->
| spacecraft            = GPS SVN-71 (IIF-9)
| spacecraft_type       = [[GPS Block IIF]]
| manufacturer          = [[Boeing]]
| launch_mass           = {{convert|1630|kg}}<ref name="GSP"/>
| dimensions            = <!--body dimensions and solar array span-->
| power                 = <!--end-of-life power, in watts-->
<!--Launch details-->
| launch_date           = {{start-date|25 March 2015, 18:36|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC
| launch_rocket         = {{nowrap|[[Delta IV|Delta IV-M+(4,2)]],}} D371<ref name="LL"/>
| launch_site           = [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station|Cape Canaveral]]&nbsp;[[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 37|SLC-37B]]<ref name="LL"/>
| launch_contractor     = [[United Launch Alliance|ULA]]
| entered_service       = <!--date on which the spacecraft entered service, if it did not do so immediately after launch-->
<!--end of mission-->
| disposal_type         = <!--Whether the spacecraft was deorbited, decommissioned, placed in a graveyard orbit, etc-->
| deactivated           = <!--{{end-date|[insert date and time here]|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC-->
<!--orbit parameters-->
| orbit_epoch           = 25 March 2015, 23:57:44 UTC
| orbit_reference       = [[geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime          = [[Medium Earth orbit|Medium Earth]]<br/><small>([[Semi-synchronous orbit|Semi-synchronous]])</small>
| orbit_apoapsis        = {{convert|20468|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="satcat"/>
| orbit_periapsis       = {{convert|20445|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="satcat"/>
| orbit_inclination     = 55.00&nbsp;degrees<ref name="satcat"/>
| orbit_period          = 729.14&nbsp;minutes<ref name="satcat"/>
| apsis                 = gee
}}
'''USA-260''', also known as '''GPS IIF-9''', '''GPS SVN-71''' and '''NAVSTAR 73''', is an American [[Satellite navigation]] which forms part of the [[Global Positioning System]]. It was the ninth of twelve [[GPS Block IIF|Block IIF]] satellites to be launched.<ref name="GSP"/>
==Launch==
Built by [[Boeing]] and launched by [[United Launch Alliance]], USA-260 was launched at 18:36 UTC on 25 March 2015, atop a [[Delta IV]] carrier rocket, flight number D370, flying in the Medium+(4,2) configuration.<ref name="LL">{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log|publisher=Jonathan's Space Page|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|author-link=Jonathan McDowell|access-date=26 March 2015}}</ref> The launch took place from [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 37|Space Launch Complex 37B]] at the [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station]],<ref name="lvdb">{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/list2.html|title=Launch List|publisher=Jonathan's Space Page|work=Launch Vehicle Database|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|access-date=26 March 2015|archive-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815040340/http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/list2.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and placed USA-260 directly into [[medium Earth orbit]].<ref name="satcat"/>
==Orbit==
On 25 March 2015, USA-260 was in an orbit with a [[apsis|perigee]] of {{convert|20445|km|sp=us}}, an [[apsis|apogee]] of {{convert|20468|km|sp=us}}, a [[orbital period|period]] of 729.14 minutes, and 55.00 degrees of [[inclination]] to the equator.<ref name="satcat">{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt|title=Satellite Catalog|publisher=Jonathan's Space Page|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|access-date=26 March 2015}}</ref> It is used to broadcast the PRN 26 signal, and operates in slot 5 of plane B of the GPS constellation. The satellite has a design life of 15 years and a mass of {{convert|1630|kg}}.
<ref name="GSP">{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/navstar-2f.htm|title=GPS-2F (Navstar-2F)|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|work=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=26 March 2015}}</ref> It is currently in service following commissioning on April 20, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?Do=gpsShowNanu&num=2015028|title=NOTICE ADVISORY TO NAVSTAR USERS (NANU) 2015028|publisher=[[United States Coast Guard]]|access-date=31 October 2015}}</ref>
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==References==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{reflist}}
{{GPS satellites}}
{{Orbital launches in 2015}}
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 2015]]
[[Category:GPS satellites]]
[[Category:USA satellites]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched by Delta IV rockets]]
{{US-spacecraft-stub}}